By Staff
"Oyez, oyez!"
Or, more commonly spoken, "Hear ye, hear Ye!"
These or similar words are apt to be heard, echoing through the streets of downtown Dowagiac, as families gather Friday evening for this community's 105-unit Candlelight Christmas Parade, proudly presented by the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce and Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.
Inspired by the Victorian-era, Franklin Ward, president of Beckwith Theatre Company, will roam the sidewalks, spreading holiday cheer and distributing candy canes to passersby, beginning at 6 p.m. as families gather for the holiday celebration.
The Victorian-era-inspired gentleman, in top hat and coattails, will return at 7:30, sounding his hand bell, as he rounds the corner of Main and Front streets, dressed as a modern-day town crier, and leads the grand procession of lights through the central business district.
Vickie Phillipson, program director of the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, who organized the Christmas celebration, said this is the second year for the theater company's president to lead the parade in this fashion, which dates back to the 18th century.
Corporate sponsors of the holiday celebration, which included the Nov. 21-23 Christmas Open House Weekend, are Matthew Cripe Dental P.C., Family Fare and Spartan Stores, dentists Dr. Charles Burling and Dr. Jon Gillesby, Dowagiac Area Federal Credit Union and Williams A-1 Expert Tree Service.
"Although Dowagiac's town crier is not apt to wear the white breeches, black boots and tri-corner hat his predecessors wore, his stately black hat, trimmed with a sprig of holly, along with his matching dress coat and clanging hand bell will likely make him easy to spot in Friday's crowd," Phillipson said.
As in medieval England and in Europe, Phillipson said, town criers typically rang hand bells to attract people's attention, as they shouted the words "oyez, oyez!" before making their public announcement.
In later years, as the attention of passersby was sought, the phrase, which means listen, became "O yes, O yes!" and then finally "hear ye, hear ye!"
Prior to newspapers, broadcast media and, of course, today's Internet, these bell ringers relayed important news of the day to people throughout town, many of whom could not read or write. Royal proclamations and market day advertisements were often presented by town criers.
The Dutch substituted the hand bell with a gong, while the French relied on a drum or hunting horn.
Old English law still provides protection for town criers, who are not to be hindered or heckled while performing their duties.
To injure or harm a town crier was seen as an act of treason.
While today's means of communication have all but replaced the true need for a town crier, like the Dowagiac Old-Fashioned Christmas Celebration, this folklore is often revived by community celebrations, just as Dowagiac has come to know its unique Old-World, Victorian Santa who is featured each year during its Christmas Open House Weekend and parade night.
Franklin Ward's peers, who carry on the tradition as modern-day town criers, compete in national and world championships for such titles as best dressed and loudest.
Phillipson said, "While Peter and Maureen Taunton of Stafford UK claim the world title for best dressed, Friday evening the best dressed town crier to attend Dowagiac's holiday celebration is still likely to be this community's very own Franklin Ward."
Dowagiac's 105-unit Candlelight Christmas Parade steps off at 7:30 p.m., following pre-parade entertainment at 7 featuring members of the Dogwood Chorale, singing atop the emcee's viewing stage, which this year moves to its new location at Front and Main streets.
Parade lineup
revisions
Unit 23 – Girl Scout Troop 729 marching unit.
Unit 77 – Tina and John Streeter of Hartford and their Belgian draft horse unit.
Unit 56 – open for late unit.